Vehicle occupants protection system

ABSTRACT

A vehicle occupants protection system wherein a front pillar garnish is mounted on a passenger compartment side of a front pillar which supports a roof with a predetermined amount of space being maintained therebetween for accommodating a side airbag, as well as a small impact absorbing member for absorbing an impact of such a small magnitude that the side airbag remains unopened, whereby the side airbag is inflated by gas generated when an impact of a predetermined magnitude or more is applied to a side of a vehicle so as to expand into a passenger compartment while forcibly opening one end portion of the front pillar garnish. Of positions of a bottom surface of the small impact absorbing member, not a position which is located closer to the side airbag but a position which is located farther away from the side airbag is attached to the front pillar garnish.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a technique for improving avehicle occupants protection system in which the protection of occupantsis enhanced at a pillar and a roof side portion of a vehicle when animpact is applied to a side of the vehicle.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] In recent years, developments have been taking place in order toincrease the performance of protecting, in particular, the heads ofoccupants of a vehicle when an impact is applied to a side of thevehicle.

[0005] A technique has been developed for this type of vehicle occupantsprotection system in which technique a roof side airbag is installed,for example, from a pillar to a side edge of a roof of the vehicle,whereby the roof side airbag is caused to inflate along the door glassesin such a way as a curtain falls when an impact of a predeterminedmagnitude or more is applied to a side of the vehicle.

[0006] In addition, another technique has been developed for anothertype of vehicle occupants protection system in which a pillar garnish ismounted on a passenger compartment side of a pillar with a predeterminedamount of space being provided therebetween for accommodating therein asmall impact absorbing member, so that when an impact of a smallmagnitude is applied to a side of the vehicle, the impact so applied canbe absorbed by the small impact absorbing member.

[0007] Furthermore, a technique has been developed in which both theroof side airbag and the small impact absorbing member are provided atthe pillar portion. Known as this type of vehicle occupants protectionsystem is, for example, an “automotive occupants protection systemlayout construction” disclosed in Japanese Examined Patent PublicationNo. 3147172 (hereinafter, referred to as the “related art”). The summaryof the related art will be described below with reference to FIGS. 11Ato 11C as an example of the vehicle occupants protection system.

[0008]FIGS. 11A to 11C are schematic views of the related art vehicleoccupants protection system, and the figures so used here are FIGS. 1, 2and 4 of Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 3147172. However, notethat new reference numerals are given. FIG. 11A shows a sideconstruction of the system as viewed from a passenger compartment sideof the vehicle, FIG. 11B shows a cross-sectional construction of thesystem taken along the line b-b of FIG. 11A, and FIG. 11C shows thefunction of the system as viewed correspondingly to FIG. 11B.

[0009]FIG. 11A shows that a bag 104 is installed in a side edge of aroof 102 and part of a front pillar portion 103 of a vehicle 101. Thebag 104 is a roof side airbag for protecting the upper half bodies ofoccupants when an impart of a predetermined magnitude or more is appliedto a side of the vehicle.

[0010]FIG. 11B shows that a pillar garnish 107 is mounted on a passengercompartment 105 side of the front pillar portion 103 with a space 106being maintained there between for accommodating therein the bag 104, aswell as a rib 108 (corresponding to a small impact absorbing member ofthe invention) for absorbing an impact of such a small magnitude thatthe bag 104 remains unopened.

[0011] The pillar garnish 107 is a member which is constitutedintegrally by a thick base portion 111 which surrounds the rib 108 and athin bag accommodating portion 112 which surrounds the bag 104. The baseportion 111 is attached to the front pillar portion 103, whereas the bagaccommodating portion 112 can be deformed from a proximal end portion113 of the bag accommodating portion 112 in a thickness direction of thepillar garnish 107.

[0012] A fixing portion 104 a of the bag 104, the rib 108 and the baseportion 111 of the pillar garnish 107 are bolted together to the frontpillar portion 103. A distal end 114 of the bag accommodating portion112 is elastically supported by an opening weatherstrip 115 disposed ata rear portion of the front pillar portion 103.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 11C, the bag 104 can expand into the passengercompartment 105 while forcibly opening the bag accommodating portion 112due to gas generated when an impact of a predetermined magnitude or moreis applied to a side of the vehicle. As this occurs, the bagaccommodating portion 112 deforms from the proximal end portion 113 ofthe bag accommodating portion 112 to the passenger compartment 105 side.

[0014] The pillar garnish 107 used in the related art is required to (1)function as an interior material having an impact absorbing constructionin an ordinary condition where no impact is applied, (2) when an impactof such a small magnitude that the bag 104 remains unopened is applied,ensure the quick transmission of the impact to the rib 108, and (3) whenthe bag 104 opens, deform so sufficiently that the bag 104 is allowed toinflate quickly and smoothly.

[0015] In general, the integration of the rib 108 to the pillar garnish107 is implemented by fixing the rib 108 to the pillar garnish 107 overthe entirety of a bottom surface thereof. This procedure allows thepillar garnish 107 and the rib 108 to be attached to the front pillarportion 103 at one time.

[0016] Of positions of the pillar garnish 107, a position that isforcibly deformed by the force of the expanding bag 104 is only aposition thereof which extends from the proximal end portion 113 to thebag accommodating portion 112 which is located distally of the proximalend portion 113. Since the bag accommodating portion 112 is intendedonly to surround the bag 104, the length from the proximal end portion113 to the distal end 114 is short. When the bag 104 inflates largelythe bag accommodating portion 112 also deforms largely in accordancewith the amount in which the bag 104 so inflates. Since the short bagaccommodating portion 112 is deformed largely, a large magnitude offorce is applied to the bag accommodating portion 112, in particular, tothe proximal end portion 113.

[0017] Since in case it is made too thin, the bag accommodating portion112 becomes too soft, the bag accommodating portion 112 cannot functionas the interior material sufficiently. In contrast, since in case it ismade too thick, the bag accommodating portion 112 becomes too hard, anexcessively large magnitude of force is applied, in particular, to theproximal end portion 113. It is not easy to secure the durability of theproximal end portion 113 against such an excessively large magnitude offorce.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0018] To cope with this, an object of the invention is to provide atechnique for a vehicle occupants protection system which allows thepillar garnish to (1) function as the interior material having an impactabsorbing construction in an ordinary condition, (2) when an impact ofsuch a small magnitude that a roof side airbag remains unopened isapplied, ensure the quick transmission of the impact to a small impactabsorbing member, and (3) when the roof side airbag opens, deform sosufficiently that the roof side airbag is allowed to inflate quickly andsmoothly.

[0019] With a view to attaining the object, according to a first aspectof the invention, there is provided a vehicle occupants protectionsystem wherein a pillar garnish is mounted on a passenger compartmentside of a pillar which supports a roof with a predetermined amount ofspace being maintained therebetween for accommodating a roof sideairbag, as well as a small impact absorbing member for absorbing animpact of such a small magnitude that the roof side airbag remainsunopened, whereby the roof side airbag is inflated by gas generated whenan impact of a predetermined magnitude or more is applied to a side of avehicle so as to expand into a passenger compartment of the vehiclewhile forcibly opening one end portion of the pillar garnish, thevehicle occupants protection system being characterized in that ofpositions of a bottom surface of the small impact absorbing member, nota position closer to the roof side airbag but a position farther awayfrom the roof side airbag is attached to the pillar garnish.

[0020] The deformation proximal end at one of the end portions of thefront pillar garnish can be set at a boundary point between the positionof the bottom surface of the small impact absorbing portion which islocated closer to the roof side airbag and the position thereof which islocated farther away from the roof side airbag by attaching not thecloser position but the farther position to the pillar garnish. Thelength from the deformation proximal end to the deformation distal endbecomes long. This can facilitate the deformation of the one end portionof the front pillar garnish to the thickness direction thereof by suchan extent that the length is enlarged. Due to this, the one end portionof the front pillar garnish is allowed to deform largely with less forcewithout being restricted by the small impact absorbing member. The oneend portion of the front pillar garnish is allowed to easily deform bysuch a sufficient amount that the roof side airbag is allowed to inflatequickly and smoothly when the roof side air bag is deployed.

[0021] Moreover, of the positions of the bottom surface of the smallimpact absorbing member, the position which is located farther away fromthe roof side airbag is maintained in the attached condition. Due tothis, even after the roof side airbag has been inflated outwardly to bedeployed, the small impact absorbing member remains attached to thepillar together with the pillar garnish. Consequently, the small impactabsorbing member can perform its impact absorbing function even afterthe roof side airbag has been deployed.

[0022] In addition, the length can be enlarged extremely easily withoutaltering the layout relationship between the roof side airbag and thesmall impact absorbing member and/or enlarging the space providedbetween the front pillar and the front pillar garnish.

[0023] Furthermore, in the ordinary condition where no impact isapplied, the front pillar garnish can sufficiently perform its functionas the interior material.

[0024] Moreover, when the vehicle receives at a side thereof an impactof such a small magnitude that the roof side airbag remains unopened,the impact can be transmitted from the front pillar garnish to the smallimpact absorbing member in quick and ensured fashions.

[0025] According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provideda vehicle occupants protection system wherein a pillar garnish ismounted on a passenger compartment side of a pillar which supports aroof with a predetermined amount of space being maintained therebetweenfor accommodating a roof side airbag, as well as a small impactabsorbing member for absorbing an impact of such a small magnitude thatthe roof side airbag remains unopened with a bottom surface of the smallimpact absorbing member being attached to the pillar garnish, wherebythe roof side airbag is inflated by gas generated when an impact of apredetermined magnitude or more is applied to a side of a vehicle so asto expand into a passenger compartment of the vehicle while forciblyopening one end portion of the pillar garnish, the vehicle occupantsprotection system being characterized in that the bottom surface of thesmall impact absorbing member is constructed to be attached to thepillar garnish through joining such as bonding, heat crimping, welding,ultrasonic welding, machine screwing and clipping, and in that a joiningforce at a position of the bottom surface of the small impact absorbingmember which is closer to the roof side airbag is set smaller than ajoining force at a position of the bottom surface of the small impactabsorbing member which is farther away from the roof side airbag, theforce so set smaller being a force which is weak enough to allow thepillar garnish to separate from the bottom surface of the small impactabsorbing member when the pillar garnish is deformed.

[0026] A large magnitude of separation force is applied to the portionwhere the front pillar garnish and the bottom surface of the smallimpact absorbing member are joined together when the pillar garnish isdeformed by the force with which the roof side airbag is opened.

[0027] To deal with this, since the joining force at the position of thebottom surface of the small impact absorbing member which is locatedcloser to the roof side airbag is set smaller than the joining force atthe position of the bottom surface of the small impact absorbing memberwhich is located farther away from the roof side airbag, the joiningforce so set smaller being a force which is so weak that the pillargarnish is allowed to separate from the bottom surface of the smallimpact absorbing member when the pillar garnish is deformed, of thejoined positions of the bottom surface of the small impact absorbingmember, the position located closer to the roof side airbag is allowedto separate from the front pillar garnish when the large magnitude ofseparation force is applied. Consequently, the deformation proximal endat the one end portion of the front pillar garnish can be set at theboundary point between the closer position and the father position. Thelength from the deformation proximal end to the deformation distal endbecomes large. This can facilitate the deformation of the one endportion of the front pillar garnish in the thickness direction thereofby such an extent that the length is increased. This allows in turn theone end portion of the front pillar garnish to deform largely with lessforce without being restricted by the small impact absorbing member. Theone end portion of the front pillar garnish is thus allowed to deformeasily by such a sufficient amount that the roof side airbag can inflateoutwardly quickly and smoothly.

[0028] Moreover, of the positions of the bottom surface of the smallimpact absorbing member, what is caused to separate from the pillargarnish is only the position which is located closer to the roof sideairbag, and the position which is located father away from the roof sideairbag is maintained in the joined condition. Due to this, even afterthe roof side airbag has been inflated to be deployed, the small impactabsorbing member remains attached to the pillar together with the pillargarnish. Consequently, the small impact absorbing member can attain thefunction to absorb impact even after the roof side airbag has beendeployed.

[0029] In addition, the length can be enlarged extremely easily withoutaltering the layout relationship between the roof side airbag and thesmall impact absorbing member and/or enlarging the space providedbetween the pillar and the front pillar garnish.

[0030] Furthermore, in the ordinary condition where no impact isapplied, the front pillar garnish can perform its function to play arole of the interior material sufficiently.

[0031] In addition, when the vehicle receives at a side thereof animpact of such a small magnitude that the roof side airbag remainsunopened, the impact so received can be transmitted from the frontpillar garnish to the small impact absorbing member in quick and ensuredfashions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032]FIG. 1 is a side view of a vehicle according to the invention asviewed from a passenger compartment side thereof;

[0033]FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

[0034]FIG. 3A is a diagram showing the constructions on the periphery ofa front pillar garnish and a small impact absorbing member;

[0035]FIG. 3B is a comparative diagram of FIG. 3B;

[0036]FIG. 4 is a diagram (Part 1) showing the function of a vehicleoccupants protection system according to the invention;

[0037]FIG. 5 is a diagram (Part 2) showing the function of the vehicleoccupants protection system according to the invention;

[0038]FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a modified example according to theinvention made to the periphery of the front pillar garnish and thesmall impact absorbing member;

[0039]FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the function of the vehicle occupantsprotection system (the modified example) according to the invention;

[0040]FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line 8-8 in FIG. 1;

[0041]FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the function of a roof side airbagaccording to the invention at a portion where a center pillar garnish islocated;

[0042]FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the function of the roof side airbagaccording to the invention; and

[0043]FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing a related art vehicleoccupants protection system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0044] An embodiment of the invention will be described below based uponthe accompanying drawings. Note that when used herein, terms such as“front”, “rear”, “left”, “right”, “upper” and “lower” denote respectivedirections as viewed from the driver. In addition, the drawings are tobe viewed in a direction in which reference numerals are oriented.

[0045]FIG. 1 is a side view of a vehicle according to the invention asviewed from a passenger compartment side of the vehicle and shows that aroof side airbag system 20 is installed in the vehicle 10. The roof sideairbag system 20 is designed so as to protect the upper bodies ofoccupants when an impact of a predetermined magnitude or more is appliedto a side of the vehicle 10. The roof side airbag system 20 so designedincludes impact detecting sensors 21, 22 for detecting that an impact ofa predetermined magnitude or more is applied to a side of the vehicle10, a control unit 23 for processing sensor signals from the impactdetecting sensors 21, 22, an inflator 24 designed to inject gasaccording to a control signal from the control unit 23 and a roof sideairbag 25 designed to be inflated by the gas from the inflator 24. Theroof side airbag 25 is such as to be installed in a side edge of a roof31 and part of a front pillar 32 of pillars which support the roof 31.

[0046] In the figure, reference numeral 33 denotes: a center pillar; 34:a rear pillar; 35: a roof lining constituting a lining for the roof 31;36: a front pillar garnish constituting a lining for the front pillar32; 37: a center pillar garnish constituting a lining for the centerpillar 33; 38: a rear pillar garnish constituting a lining for the rearpillar 34; 39: a front door, 41: a window glass in the front door 39;42: a rear door; 43: a window glass in the rear door 42; 44: a rearseat; and 45: a floor.

[0047]FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2-2 in FIG. 1 andshows that a windscreen 46 is mounted to a front end portion of theright-hand side front pillar 32 and that the front door 39 is mounted toa rear end portion thereof in such a manner as to opened and closed.

[0048] The front pillar 32 is a structure having a closed cross sectionwhich is constituted in combination by a pillar inner panel 51 disposedon a passenger compartment 48 side and a pillar outer panel 52 disposedon an external side of the vehicle and is a member reinforced bypartitioning an interior space of the closed cross section with areinforcing material 53. The front pillar 32 has a rear flange portion54 in which a flange portion at a rear end of the pillar inner panel 51and a flange portion at a rear end of the pillar outer panel 52 overlapeach other to be joined together.

[0049] The rear flange portion 54 extends to the rear and a rear endthereof terminates as an edge of a front door opening. A body-sideweatherstrip 55 is mounted on the rear flange portion 54 for sealing bybeing brought into contact with an inner surface of an edge of the frontdoor 39 when the front door 39 is closed.

[0050] The invention is characterized in that the front pillar garnish36 is disposed on the passenger compartment 48 side of the front pillar32 with a predetermined amount of space S1 being provided therebetween,and the space S1 accommodates the roof side airbag 25 and a small impactabsorbing member 70. The roof side airbag system 20 and the small impactabsorbing member 70 constitutes a vehicle occupants protection system11.

[0051] To be specific, the front pillar garnish 36 is a structure havinga substantially U-shaped cross section which surrounds the entirety ofthe passenger compartment 48 side of the front pillar 32. This structurehaving the substantially U-shaped cross section is an elongated interiormaterial which extends vertically along the front pillar 32 (that is, inperpendicular directions to the surface of the figure).

[0052] As viewed from the top like this, one end portion 61 of the frontpillar garnish 36 extends as far as a rear end of the front pillar 32 orthe vicinity of the rear flange portion 54. By allowing an elastic lip55 a to extend from the body-side weatherstrip 55 to the one end portion61 side, the elastic lip 55 a can be brought into an elastic contactwith an external surface of the one end portion 61. Consequently, theopening of the one end portion 61 to the passenger compartment 48 sidecan be restricted by the elastic lip 55 a.

[0053] In addition, the other end portion 62 of the front pillar garnish36 extends as far as the vicinity of a front end of the front pillar 32.

[0054] The figure shows that the roof side airbag 25 is disposed in thespace S1 at the one end portion 61 of the front pillar garnish 36 (onthe right-hand side of the figure), that the small impact absorbingmember 70 is disposed adjacent to and forward of the roof side airbag 25(on the left-hand side of the figure), and that wiring harnesses 81, 82are disposed forward of the small impact absorbing member 70.

[0055] The side airbag 25 is such as to be accommodated in a bagaccommodation case 26 in a folded condition. The bag accommodation case26 is an accommodation member adapted to be broken to be deployed whenthe side airbag 25 inflates and is attached to the front pillar 32.Thus, the side airbag 25 can be attached to the front pillar 32.

[0056] In addition, the side airbag 25 includes a supplementaldeployment member such as a string which is adapted to be deployedtogether with the side airbag 25 to perform a supplemental action to thebag. Hereinafter, whenever referring to the side airbag 25, thesupplemental deployment member is understood to be included therein.

[0057] The small impact absorbing member 70 is an elongate memberextending vertically along the front pillar garnish 36 and is also animpact absorbing member for absorbing an impact of such a smallmagnitude that the roof side airbag 25 remains unopened. The smallimpact absorbing member 70 is an integrally molded article including abottom plate 71 which extends vertically along an inner surface 63 ofthe front pillar garnish 36 and a rib portion 72 extending from thebottom plate 71 toward the front pillar 32.

[0058] A slight space S2 is provided between the front pillar 32 and thefront portion of the rib portion 72. The rib portion 72 is a memberconstructed by arranging in parallel crosses a plurality of verticalribs 73 . . . ( . . . notes a plural member, and this will be truehereinafter) which extend vertically along the front pillar garnish 36and a plurality of horizontal ribs 74 . . . which extend longitudinallyin such a manner as to cross the plurality of vertical ribs 73 . . .

[0059] The front pillar garnish 36 and the small impact absorbing member70 are products each formed of non-metallic material (for example, athermoplastic resin such as polypropylene) or a metallic material.

[0060]FIGS. 3A, 3B are diagrams showing the constructions on theperiphery of the front pillar garnish and the small impact absorbingmember, in which FIG. 3A corresponds to FIG. 2 and shows the embodimentof the invention, and FIG. 3B shows a small impact absorbing member as acomparison example.

[0061]FIG. 3A shows that a mounting seat 64 is made to extend from thefront pillar garnish 36 toward the pillar inner panel 51 and that thefront pillar garnish 36 is attached to the front pillar 32 by attachingthe mounting seat 64 to the pillar inner panel 51 with a clip 65.

[0062] As shown in FIG. 3A, the invention is characterized in that ofpositions of a bottom surface of the small impact absorbing member 70 ora bottom surface 75 of the bottom plate 71, not a position 76 (a rearhalf portion 76) which is located closer to the roof side airbag 25 buta position 77 (a front half portion 77) which is located farther awayfrom the roof side airbag 25 is attached to the front pillar garnish 36.Thus, the small impact absorbing member 70 is only attached to the frontpillar garnish 36.

[0063] To be more specific, of the positions of the bottom plate 71, therear half portion 76 (the right-hand side half portion in the figure)which is located closer to the roof side airbag 25 is made thinner thanthe front half portion 77. As a result, a surface 78 which is spacedaway from the inner surface 63 of the front pillar garnish 36 or aseparate open surface 78 can be provided along the rear half portion 76of the bottom plate 71. A gap S3 of a predetermined interval can besecured between the separate open surface 78 and the inner surface 63 ofthe front pillar garnish 36. Thus, the gap S3 of a predeterminedinterval can be provided between the rear half portion 76 of the bottomplate 71 and the inner surface 63 of the front pillar garnish 36. Thelength of the rear half portion 76 along which the gap S3 is provided isdenoted by L2.

[0064] Of the positions of the bottom surface 75 of the bottom plate 71,the position 77 (the front half portion 77) which is located fartheraway from the roof side airbag 25 is constructed to be attached to thefront pillar garnish 36 through joining such as bonding, heat crimping,welding, ultrasonic welding, machine screwing and clipping. A joiningforce resulting from the joining is of such a large magnitude that thesmall impact absorbing member 70 and the front pillar garnish 36 whichare so joined together are not allowed to separate from each other evenwhen the front pillar garnish 36 is bent (or deformed).

[0065] In contrast, with the small impact absorbing member 70A of thecomparison example shown in FIG. 3B, the entirety of a bottom surface 75is attached to an inner surface 63 of a front pillar garnish 36 throughjoining. In this comparison example, one end portion 61 of the frontpillar garnish 36 can be referred to as a cantilever which can deform ina thickness direction of the front pillar garnish 36 (in a directionindicated by an arrow X1) from a rear end portion 79A of the smallimpact absorbing member 70A which functions as a proximal end for swing.The distance from one end 66 of the front pillar garnish 36 to the rearend portion 79A (the proximal end 79A for swing or a hinge) is L1.

[0066] In contrast to this, with the small impact absorbing member 70according to the invention shown in FIG. 3A, the position which islocated closer to the roof side airbag 25 is not attached to the frontpillar garnish 36. Consequently, the swing proximal end of the one endportion 61 of the front pillar garnish 36 becomes a boundary point 79between the front half portion 77 and the rear half portion 76. Thelength from one end 66 of the front pillar garnish 36 to the boundarypoint 79 (the proximal end 79 for swing or a hinge) is L3, which islonger by the length L2 of the rear half portion 76 along which the gapS3 is provided than the comparison example shown in FIG. 3B. Namely,“L3=L1+L2.” Thus, according to the invention, the deformation of the oneend portion 61 of the front pillar garnish 36 toward the thicknessdirection (a direction indicated by an arrow X) can be facilitated by anextent that the deformable length is increased.

[0067] Next, the functions of the roof side airbag 25, the front pillargarnish 36 and the small impact absorbing member 70 which areconstructed as has been described heretofore will be described withreference to FIGS. 3A to 5.

[0068] With the front pillar garnish 36 shown in FIG. 3A, the thicknessis set such that front pillar garnish 36 can perform its function as aninterior material having an impact absorbing construction in theordinary condition where no impact is applied.

[0069] When the vehicle 10 receives at a side thereof an impact of sucha small magnitude that the roof side airbag 25 remains unopened or alight impact, there may occur a case where the upper half body (forexample, the head or shoulder) of an occupant hits against the frontpillar garnish 36. As this occurs, the light impact can be transmittedfrom the front pillar garnish 36 to the small impact absorbing member 70in quick and ensured fashions. The small impact absorbing member 70 canabsorb the impact energy through deformation. Namely, the small impactabsorbing member 70 can absorb and carry impact energy by being deformedwhen receiving the impact of such a small magnitude that the roof sideairbag 25 remains unopened.

[0070] On the other hand, when the impact detecting sensors 21, 22(refer to FIG. 1) detect that an impact of a predetermined magnitude ormore is applied to a side of the vehicle 10, the roof side airbag 25starts to be inflated by gas generated then.

[0071]FIG. 4 is a diagram (Part 1) showing the function of the vehicleoccupants protection system according to the invention and shows thatthe roof side airbag 25 expands into the passenger compartment 48 sidewhile forcibly opening the one end portion 61 of the front pillargarnish 36. The one end portion 61 of the front pillar garnish 36 ispushed toward the passenger compartment 48 side on the boundary point 79which functions as the proximal end for swing (the proximal end fordeformation) to thereby deform elastically, the one end portion 61 beingthus allowed to separate from the lip portion 55 a.

[0072]FIG. 5 is a diagram (Part 2) showing the function of the vehicleoccupants protection system according to the invention and shows thatthe one end portion 61 of the front pillar garnish 36 is pushed furthertoward the passenger compartment 48 side on the boundary point 79 whichfunctions as the proximal end for swing to thereby deform elasticallyfurther when the roof side airbag 25 further expands.

[0073] As shown in FIG. 3A, the swing proximal end of the one endportion 61 of the front pillar garnish 36 is located at the boundarypoint 79. The length L3 from the one end 66 to the boundary point 79 islonger by the length L2 of the rear half portion 76 along which the gapS3 is provided than the comparison example shown in FIG. 3B. Thus, theone end portion 61 of the front pillar garnish 36 can deform easilytoward the thickness direction thereof by the extent that the length ofthe deformable portion is so increased. Due to this, the one end portion61 of the front pillar garnish 36 is allowed to deform largely with lessforce without being restricted by the small impact absorbing member 70.

[0074] Consequently, when the roof side airbag 25 is inflated, the oneend portion 61 of the front pillar garnish 36 can easily deform by sucha sufficient amount that the roof side airbag 25 can expand quickly andsmoothly. Thus, since the one end portion 61 of the front pillar garnish36 is allowed to deform largely with less force, there is caused noconcern that the roof side airbag 25 and/or the small impact absorbingmember 70 maybe damaged.

[0075] Moreover, the joining force at the front half portion 77 is sostrong that the front pillar garnish 36 does not separate from the fronthalf portion 77 even when the front pillar garnish 36 is bent (ordeformed). Of the portions of the bottom surface 75 of the small impactabsorbing member 70, the front half portion is maintained in theattached condition. Due to this, even after the roof side airbag 25 hasbeen inflated to be deployed, the small impact absorbing member 70 canbe maintained in the attached condition to the front pillar 32 togetherwith the front pillar garnish 36. Consequently, the small impactabsorbing member 70 can perform its function to absorb impact even afterthe roof side airbag 25 has been deployed.

[0076] In addition, the length L3 can be increased extremely easilywithout altering the layout relationship between the roof side airbag 25and the small impact absorbing member 70 and/or enlarging the space S1.

[0077] Next, a modified example of a vehicle occupants protection systemwill be described based upon FIGS. 6 and 7.

[0078]FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the modified constructions on theperiphery of the front pillar garnish and the small impact absorbingmember and corresponds to FIG. 3A. Like reference numerals are impartedto constituent members like to those shown in FIG. 3A, and thedescription thereof will be omitted.

[0079] In the modified example, of positions of a bottom surface of asmall impact absorbing member 70 or a bottom surface 75 of a bottomplate 71, both a position 76 (a rear half portion 76) which is locatedcloser to a roof side airbag 25 and a position 77 (a front half portion77) which is located farther away from the roof side airbag 25 areattached to a front pillar garnish 36.

[0080] The rear half portion 76 and front half portion 77 areconstructed to be attached to the front pillar garnish 36 throughjoining such as bonding, heat crimping, welding, ultrasonic welding,machine screwing and clipping.

[0081] The modified example is characterized in that a joining force atthe rear half portion 76 which is located closer to the roof side airbag25 is set smaller than a joining force at the front half portion 77which is located farther away from the roof side airbag 25. The joiningforce at the front half portion 77 is so strong that the front pillargarnish 36 does not separate from the front half portion 77 even whenthe front pillar garnish 36 is bent (or deformed). The joining force atthe rear half portion 76 is so weak that the front pillar garnish 36separates from the rear half portion 76 when the front pillar garnish 36is bent.

[0082] Thus, a surface 78A adapted to easily separate from an innersurface 63 of the front pillar garnish 36 or a separate open surface 78Acan be provided along the rear half portion 76 of the bottom plate 71.The length of the rear half portion 76 along which the separate opensurface 78A is provided is L2.

[0083] Next, the functions of the roof side airbag 25, the front pillargarnish 36 and the small impact absorbing member 70 of the modifiedexample will be described based upon FIGS. 6 and 7.

[0084] In FIG. 6, the front pillar garnish 36 plays a role of aninterior material having an impact absorbing construction in theordinary condition where no impact is applied.

[0085] When an impact of such a small magnitude that the roof sideairbag 25 remains unopened or a light impact is applied to a side of thevehicle 10, the light impact can be transmitted from the front pillargarnish 36 to the small impact absorbing member 70 in quick and ensuredfashions. The small impact absorbing member 70 absorbs the impact energyby deforming.

[0086] In contrast, when an impact of a predetermined magnitude or moreis applied to a side of the vehicle 10, the roof side airbag 25 startsto be inflated by gas generated then.

[0087]FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the function of the vehicle occupantsprotection system (the modified example) according to the invention andshows that the one end portion 61 of the front pillar garnish 36 ispushed toward the passenger compartment 48 side on the boundary point 79which functions as the proximal end for swing to thereby be elasticallydeformed by virtue of the inflation of the roof side airbag 25.

[0088] When the front pillar garnish 36 is deformed by virtue of theforce of the inflating roof side airbag 25, a large magnitude ofseparation force is applied to a portion where the front pillar garnish36 and the bottom surface 75 of the small impact absorbing member 70 arejoined together.

[0089] To cope with this, of the positions of the bottom surface 75 ofthe small impact absorbing member 70, since a joining force at theposition 76 which is located closer to the roof side airbag 25 is setsmaller than a joining force at the position 77 which is located fartheraway from the roof side airbag 25 with the smaller joining force beingmade to be so weak that the front pillar garnish 36 separates from thebottom surface 75 of the small impact absorbing member 70 when the frontpillar garnish 36 is so deformed, of the portions of the bottom surface75 of the small impact absorbing member 70, the joined rear half portion76 which is located closer to the roof side airbag 25 is allowed toseparate from the front pillar garnish 36 when the large magnitude ofseparation force is applied.

[0090] As shown in FIG. 6, which has been referred to before, a swingproximal end of the one end portion 61 of the front pillar garnish 36 islocated at a boundary point 79. The length L3 from one end 66 to theboundary point 79 is longer by the length L2 of the rear half portion76. The deformation of the one end portion 61 of the front pillargarnish 36 toward the thickness direction thereof can be facilitated bysuch an extent that the length L3 is made so longer. Thus, the one endportion 61 of the front pillar garnish 36 is allowed to deform largelywith less force without being restricted by the small impact absorbingmember 70.

[0091] Consequently, when the roof side airbag 25 is inflated the oneend portion 61 of the front pillar garnish 36 can easily deform by sucha sufficient amount that the roof side airbag 25 is allowed to inflatedquickly and smoothly. Since the front pillar garnish 36 is allowed todeform largely with less force, there is caused no concern that the roofside airbag 25 and/or the small impact absorbing member 70 may bedamaged.

[0092] Moreover, the joining force at the front half portion 77 is sostrong that the front pillar garnish 36 is not allowed to separate fromthe front half portion 77 even when the front pillar garnish 36 is bent(or deformed). Of the portions of the bottom surface 75 of the smallimpact absorbing member 70, the front half portion 77 is maintained inthe attached condition. Due to this, the small impact absorbing member70 is maintained in the attached condition to the front pillar 32together with the front pillar garnish 36 even after the roof sideairbag 25 has been inflated to be deployed. Consequently, the smallimpact absorbing member 70 can perform its function to absorb impacteven after the roof side airbag 25 has been deployed.

[0093] In addition, the length L3 can be increased extremely easilywithout altering the layout relationship between the roof side airbag 25and the small impact absorbing member 70 and/or expanding the space S1.

[0094]FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line 8-8 in FIG. 1 andshows that the center pillar 37 is attached in such a manner as tosecure a predetermined amount of space S4 on the passenger compartment48 side of a roof panel 91 of the roof 31 and the center pillar 33,respectively, and the roof lining 35 is attached in such a manner as tosecure a predetermined amount of space S4 on the passenger compartment48 side of the roof panel 91 and that the roof side airbag 25 isaccommodated in the space S4.

[0095] The roof lining 35 can be fastened to the center pillar garnish37 by allowing a lower end portion 35 a of the roof lining 35 to behooked on the back of an upper end portion 37 a of the center pillargarnish 37. Reference numeral 92 denotes a center pillar garnishattachment clip.

[0096]FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the function of the roof side airbagaccording to the invention as viewed at the location of the centerpillar garnish and is shown so as to correspond to FIG. 8.

[0097] The figure illustrates that the roof side airbag 25 inflates intothe passenger compartment 48 side while forcibly opening the lower endportion 35 a of the roof lining 35. The lower end portion 35 a is pushedtoward the passenger compartment 48 side to thereby elastically deform,whereby the lower end portion 35 a is allowed to separate from the upperend portion 37 a of the center pillar garnish 37. As a result, the roofside airbag 25 is allowed to inflate downwardly into the passengercompartment 48.

[0098]FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the function of the roof side airbagaccording to the invention and illustrates that the roof side airbag 25inflates along the front door window glass 41 and the rear door windowglass 43 in such a manner as a curtain falls. Thus, the upper halfbodies (for example, the heads and/or shoulders) of the occupants can beprotected by the roof side airbag 25 which so inflates when an impact ofa predetermined magnitude or more is applied to a side of the vehicle.

[0099] Note that in the embodiment of the invention, the pillar whichsupports the roof 31 is not limited to the front pillar 32.Additionally, the pillar garnish is not limited to the front pillargarnish 36.

[0100] Furthermore, the provision of the gaps S2, S3 is optional.

[0101] According to the first aspect of the invention, the proximal endfor deformation (the deformation proximal end) at the one end portion ofthe front pillar garnish can be set at the boundary point between theposition of the bottom surface of the small impact absorbing portionwhich is located closer to the roof side airbag and the position thereofwhich is located farther away from the roof side airbag by attaching notthe closer position but the farther position to the pillar garnish. Thelength from the deformation proximal end to the deformation distal endbecomes long. This can facilitate the deformation of the one end portionof the front pillar garnish to the thickness direction thereof by suchan extent that the length is enlarged. Due to this, the one end portionof the front pillar garnish is allowed to deform largely with less forcewithout being restricted by the small impact absorbing member. The oneend portion of the front pillar garnish is allowed to easily deform bysuch a sufficient amount that the roof side airbag is allowed to inflatequickly and smoothly when the roof side airbag is deployed.

[0102] Moreover, of the positions of the bottom surface of the smallimpact absorbing member, the position which is located farther away fromthe roof side airbag is maintained in the attached condition. Due tothis, even after the roof side airbag has been inflated outwardly to bedeployed, the small impact absorbing member remains attached to thepillar together with the pillar garnish. Consequently, the small impactabsorbing member can perform its impact absorbing function even afterthe roof side airbag has been deployed.

[0103] In addition, the length can be enlarged extremely easily withoutaltering the layout relationship between the roof side airbag and thesmall impact absorbing member and/or enlarging the space providedbetween the front pillar and the front pillar garnish.

[0104] Furthermore, since the construction is adopted in which the smallimpact absorbing member is separated from the pillar garnish, optimalmaterials can be selected for the respective members. For example, thepillar garnish can be formed of a soft material, whereas the smallimpact absorbing member of a hard material.

[0105] Furthermore, in the ordinary condition where no impact isapplied, the front pillar garnish can sufficiently perform its functionas the interior material.

[0106] Moreover, when the vehicle receives at a side thereof an impactof such a small magnitude that the roof side airbag remains unopened,the impact can be transmitted from the front pillar garnish to the smallimpact absorbing member in quick and ensured fashions.

[0107] According to the second aspect of the invention, since thejoining force at the position of the bottom surface of the small impactabsorbing member which is located closer to the roof side airbag is setsmaller than the joining force at the position of the bottom surface ofthe small impact absorbing member which is located farther away from theroof side airbag, the joining force so set smaller being a force whichis so weak that the pillar garnish is allowed to separate from thebottom surface of the small impact absorbing member when the pillargarnish is deformed, of the joined positions of the bottom surface ofthe small impact absorbing member, the position located closer to theroof side airbag is allowed to separate from the front pillar garnishwhen the large magnitude of separation force is applied. Consequently,the proximal end for deformation at the one end portion of the frontpillar garnish can be set at the boundary point between the closerposition and the father position. The length from the deformationproximal end to the deformation distal end becomes large. This canfacilitate the deformation of the one end portion of the front pillargarnish in the thickness direction thereof by such an extent that thelength is increased. This allows in turn the one end portion of thefront pillar garnish to deform largely with less force without beingrestricted by the small impact absorbing member. The one end portion ofthe front pillar garnish is thus allowed to deform easily by such asufficient amount that the roof side airbag can inflate outwardlyquickly and smoothly.

[0108] Moreover, of the positions of the bottom surface of the smallimpact absorbing member, what is caused to separate from the pillargarnish is only the position which is located closer to the roof sideairbag, and the position which is located father away from the roof sideairbag is maintained in the joined condition. Due to this, even afterthe roof side airbag has been inflated to be deployed, the small impactabsorbing member remains attached to the pillar together with the pillargarnish. Consequently, the small impact absorbing member can attain thefunction to absorb impact even after the roof side airbag has beendeployed.

[0109] In addition, the length can be enlarged extremely easily withoutaltering the layout relationship between the roof side airbag and thesmall impact absorbing member and/or enlarging the space providedbetween the pillar and the front pillar garnish.

[0110] Furthermore, since the construction is adopted in which the smallimpact absorbing member is separated from the pillar garnish, optimalmaterials can be selected for the respective members. For example, thepillar garnish can be formed of a soft material, whereas the smallimpact absorbing member of a hard material.

[0111] Furthermore, in the ordinary condition where no impact isapplied, the front pillar garnish can perform its function to play arole of the interior material sufficiently.

[0112] In addition, when the vehicle receives at a side thereof animpact of such a small magnitude that the roof side airbag remainsunopened, the impact so received can be transmitted from the frontpillar garnish to the small impact absorbing member in quick and ensuredfashions.

What is claimed is:
 1. A vehicle occupants protection system comprising:a pillar garnish mounted on a passenger compartment side of a pillarwhich supports a roof to define a predetermined amount of a spaceportion between said pillar and said pillar garnish; a roof side airbagaccommodated in said space portion, said roof side airbag being inflatedby gas generated when an impact of a predetermined magnitude or more isapplied to a side of a vehicle so as to expand into the passengercompartment side of said vehicle while forcibly opening one end portionof said pillar garnish; and a small impact absorbing member accommodatedin said space portion, for absorbing an impact of such a small magnitudethat said roof side airbag remains unopened, wherein a bottom surface ofsaid small impact absorbing member at a first portion which is locatedcloser to said roof side airbag is free from being attached to saidpillar garnish, and the bottom surface of said small impact absorbingmember at a second portion which is located farther away from said roofside airbag is attached to said pillar garnish.
 2. The vehicle occupantsprotection system according to claim 1, wherein said bottom surface ofsaid small impact absorbing member is joined to said pillar garnishthrough one of bonding, heat crimping, welding, ultrasonic welding,machine screwing and clipping.
 3. The vehicle occupants protectionsystem according to claim 1, a bottom plate of said pillar garnishdefining the bottom surface is formed in such a manner that a thicknessthereof at the first portion is thinner than that at the second portionso as to define a gap between said pillar garnish and said small impactabsorbing member at the first portion.
 4. A vehicle occupants protectionsystem comprising: a pillar garnish mounted on a passenger compartmentside of a pillar which supports a roof to define a predetermined amountof a space portion between said pillar and said pillar garnish; a roofside airbag accommodated in said space portion, said roof side airbagbeing inflated by gas generated when an impact of a predeterminedmagnitude or more is applied to a side of a vehicle so as to expand intoa passenger compartment of said vehicle while forcibly opening one endportion of said pillar garnish; and a small impact absorbing memberjoined to said pillar garnish at a bottom surface thereof so as to beaccommodated in said space portion, said small impact absorbing memberabsorbing an impact of such a small magnitude that said roof side airbagremains unopened, wherein a joining force at a portion of said bottomsurface of said small impact absorbing member which is located closer tosaid roof side airbag is set smaller than a joining force at a portionof said bottom surface of said small impact absorbing member which islocated farther away from said roof side airbag, said joining force soset smaller being a force which is so weak that said pillar garnish isallowed to separate from said bottom surface of said small impactabsorbing member when said pillar garnish is deformed.
 5. The vehicleoccupants protection system according to claim 4, wherein said bottomsurface of said small impact absorbing member is joined to said pillargarnish through one of bonding, heat crimping, welding, ultrasonicwelding, machine screwing and clipping.